Method of and apparatus for applying terminal pins to printed circuit boards



Oct. 10, 1967 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL PINS T0 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Original Filed May 25, 19 64 INVENTOR.

BY w/ILM/ w -mwd G. T. DE SHONG 3,346,162 r 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 10, 1967 T. DE SHONG 3,346,162

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL I f PINS TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Original Filed May 25, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY MW) H TO/F/YEYS.

G. T. DE SHONG 3,346,162 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL Oct. 10, 1967 PINS TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Original Filed May 25, 1964 Oct. 10, 1967 G. T. as SHONG 3,346,162

METHOD 'OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL PINS TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Original Filed May 25, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 is; @i 1g 14 INVENTOR. 6764 r5 6' 7. 2 5&0 @9' mum, $4 ugeu 3,346,162 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL Oct. 10, 1967 cs. T. DE SHONG PINS TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Original Filed May 25, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 G. T. DE SHONG I METHOD OF AND- APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL PINS TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS A Original Filed May 25, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 i M MwR INVENTOR. 61. 0/3 7.365/(0/(5. BY W m IIQ l m X A. w l Q T m wwb M j v H .n 1% guo L \K \& \N

Original Filed May 25, 1964 Oct. 10, 1967 G. T. DE SHONG 3,346,162

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL PINS TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 'INVENTOR. E. l S G a/ye TZeS/ragg.

Oct. 10, 1967 G. 'r. DE SHONG 3,346,152

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL PINS TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Original Filed May 25, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 mis 7 2 JLC/ //2 INVENTOR. Ir 62 Tjg&0/7j

//4 WWYMW I Wv-wu United States Patent M 3,346,162 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINAL PINS T0 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS George T. De Shong, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor to Berg Electronics, Inc., New Cumberland, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,789, now Patent No. 3,307,244, dated Mar. 7, 1967. Divided and this application Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 606,472

9 Claims. (Cl. 227-95) This is a division of application Ser. No. 369,789, filed May 25, 1964, now Patent No. 3,307,244, issued Mar. 7, 1967.

This invention relates to techniques for applying terminals to circuit elements, and has particular reference to an efficient method of and a relatively simple and inexpensive apparatus for applying terminal pins to printed circuit boards.

Conventional techniques for inserting a series of terminal pins in the holes of a circuit board are inefficient and less than satisfactory for a number of reasons, one of which is the difficulty of lining up a hole in the board with a pin. According to my invention, I provide an airoperated press type apparatus which projects the load end of the pin downwardly so that it is free and accessible whereby the operator can see such lead end and utilize it as a fixed guide while shifting a circuit board below the pin for piloting the hole in the board on the pin and,

while the pin is supported, moving the board axially of the pin so as to force the hole in the board over the main diameter portion of the pin, and then while the board is held by the press, driving the pin into the hole in the board so as to accurately position the pin in the hole. My invention not only reduces the time and labor involved in applying terminal pins, but also supports the pin during insertion so that the inserted pins are more accurately and uniformly located relative to the board than is possible with conventional manual methods.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a novel and eflicient method of applying terminal pins to printed circuit boards.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive press type of apparatus for efficiently and accurately applying terminal pins to printed circuit boards.

Other and further objects of'the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are eight sheets, which by way of illustration show a preferred embodiment of the invention and What I now consider to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a press type apparatus for applying terminal pins to printed circuit boards;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a circuit board to which several terminal pins have been applied;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55; of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the press with the anvil and punch in their extended positions;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the punch and movable jaw of the press in their retracted positions;

3,346,162. Patented Oct. 10, 196? FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and showing the strip of pin terminals in position for the next cycle of operation;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken in a plane corresponding with that of FIG. 4 and illustrating the step of shearing the lead terminal from its carrier strip;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to FIG. 8 but showing the lead terminal in its pilot position;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views taken along the lines 12-12 and 13-13 respectively of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is :an enlarged view of the parts shown in circle D of FIG. 5 and showing the terminal pin in its pilot position;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the parts which make up the feed mechanism, the supporting jaws, the punch, and the carrier cutoff;

FIG. 16 is a schematic circuit diagram of the pneumatic circuit and controls for the pneumatic cylinders; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the electric control circuit of the press.

In accordance with my method, I sever the lead pin of a strip of terminal pins 26 from the strip and support and position such pin so that the lead end thereof is free to function as a pilot. Preferably, the pin is vertically supported so that the lead end thereof projects freely downwa-rdly as illustrated in FIG. 5 whereby the operator can see the lead end of the pin and use it as a guide while shifting the circuit board for piloting the hole therein over the pin, as shown in FIG. 5.

The circuit board is then moved upwardly on the pin so as to force the hole in the board over the main diameter portion of the pin and then, while the circuit board is held by the anvil of the press adjacent the supporting jaws for the pin, the pin is driven further into the hole in the board so as to accurately position the pin in the hole where it is held by frictional contact. As soon as the press is opened, the circuit board may be moved so as to bring another hole in the board into position for the application of a pin thereto while the press is shifting the next pin from the carrier into the pilot position.

7 The press type apparatus as illustrated in the drawings comprises in general jaws 20 and 22 for holding and vertically supporting a terminal pin 26 for movement lengthwise thereof, feed and guide mechanism indicated generally at 24 for feeding a series of parallel terminal pins 26 on a carrier strip 27 one by one between the jaws so as to position the lead pin 26 on the carrier 27 in a severing position as illustrated in FIG. 9, a punch 28 associated with the jaws and operable for severing the lead pin 26 from the carrier strip 27, and for moving the severed pin lengthwise of the jaws so that the lead end of the pin projects downwardly from the jaws as illustrated in FIG. 5 to form a pilot for the circuit board 30. A back-up anvil 32 is disposed opposite to and in line with the jaws and operable to apply pressure in the direction of the jaws against a circuit board disposed transversely between the anvil and the jaws so as to force the board onto the major diameter portion of the pin. Air cylinder means 34 operate the punch so as to cause it to drive the pin projecting from the lower end of the jaws into the board so as to accurately position the pin on the board.

The anvil 32 and its operating mechanism are suitably mounted on the base of a press type frame 36 so that the v anvil 32 projects upwardly while the jaws 20 and 22 are mounted on the upper part of the frame so that they project downwardly toward and in line with the anvil 32. The frame is provided with an opening 38 therein into which the anvil 32 and the jaws 20 and 22 project and so that a circuit board may be positioned below the jaws and above the anvil 32. As illustrated, the apparatus is adapted for manual operation under the control of an operator who manually positions the circuit board 30 for the application of a terminal pin thereto, although I contemplate that a mechanized feed could be provided for the circuit board. However, the machine is particularly adapted for use by an operator who will use the downwardly projecting lead end of the terminal pin 26 as a fixed pilot while the circuit board 30 is shifted to bring the hole therein into registration with the terminal pin depending from the jaws 20 and 22. The jaw 20 is fixed while the back jaw 22 is movable between its pilot position as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and its retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Starting with the parts arranged as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the terminal 26 is held in its pilot position by the jaws 20 and 22 so that the lower lead end of the terminal is free. As shown in FIG. 14, the lead end 40 of the terminal is of reduced cross section relative to the main diameter portion 42 so that the lead portion will freely enter the hole 44 in the printed circuit board 36, which has current conductors 46 and 48 printed or otherwise atfixed thereto, the conductors overlapping the holes 44. The size of the holes 44 and the corresponding openings in the conductors is less than the major diameter portion 42 of the pin 26 so that when the hole 44 in the board 30 is forced over the major diameter portion 42 of the pin, it will be securely anchored in the board 30 and in current conducting contact with the conductors 46 or 48 which form an integral part of the board 30.

The punch 28 is disposed between the jaws 20 and 22, the jaw 22 being provided with an elongated rib 50 along one side thereof and a short rib 52 on the other side thereof which form guides for the tool end 54 of the punch and the pin 26 as they move relative thereto. The upper end of the punch 28 is clamped between and secured to block 60 and plate 62 which, together with bracket 64, form a head 65 to which the piston rod 66 is connected by a shiftable linkage in order to adjust for any differences in alignment between the piston rod and the head. Bracket 67 is secured to head 65 and provides spacers 69 positioned under the head. The spacers limit the downward travel of the punch by bottoming on the upper surface of block 80 as shown in FIG. 6.

The rod 66 at its upper end is provided with a piston 68 which works in cylinder 70. Air lines 72 and 74 connected to the ends of the cylinder 70 form part of a means for supplying air under pressure to the opposite ends of the cylinder '70 whereby the piston 68 may be moved in both directions so as to position and move the punch 28. During the cycle of the press, the punch 28 moves from the pilot position shown in FIGS. 4 and down to the pin inserting position of FIG. 6, and then up to the retracted position of FIG. 8.

Parallel guides 76 cooperate with slots in the block 60 for guiding the latter in its reciprocable movement. The block 68 has a lost motion connection with block 80 to which the back jaw 22 is secured so as to move therewith. The guides 76 also cooperate with slots in the block 80 for guiding the same during its vertical movement. The lost motion connection between the block 60 and the block 88 comprises a pair of parallel arms 82 fixed to the sides of the block 60 and projecting downwardly therefrom and a pair of springs 84, the lower ends of the arms 82 on the inside thereof each being provided with a shoulder 86. The shoulders 86 are engageable with corresponding shoulders 88 projecting laterally from the block 88 so as to cause the block 80 to travel upwardly with the block 60 when the shoulders 86 and 88 engage, while permitting downward movement of the block 60 relative to the block 80 when the latter is bottomed on the block 9%) which forms a mounting pad for the fixed jaw 28.

Thus, with the block 80 bottomed on the block 90 as illustrated in FIG. 4, the block 60 is free to move downwardly against the compression of the springs 84 and thus move the punch 28 downwardly relative to the jaws 20 and 22 from the position as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to that illustrated in FIG. 6. Spacers 69 limit the downward movement of block 60 relative to block by hottoming on block 80. From FIG. 15 it will be evident that the downwardly projecting arms 82 are disposed in slots 83 in the block 80.

In moving from the position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to that of FIG. 6, the punch 28 applies pressure to the upper end of the pin 26 to move it lengthwise thereof relative to the jaws 20 and 22 and to the board 30 so as to accurately position the pin 26 in the hole in the board. The depth to which the pin 26 is driven in the hole 44 is determined by the thickness of the spacers 69. As shown in FIG. 15, alternate brackets 67 with different thickness spacers 69 may be provided. If a thinner spacer is used, the punch 28 descends further between the jaws 28 and 22 and drives the pin 26 further into the hole 44. Before the punch 28 is driven to the position illustrated in FIG. 6, the anvil 32 is moved upwardly to its position as illustrated in FIG. 6 for applying pressure against the lower surface of the board 30 so as to move the board 30 from the position in which it is illustrated in FIG. 5 toward jaws 20 and 22 and axially of the pin 26 so as to force the hole in the board over the major diameter portion 42 of the pin 26. Depending upon the thickness of the circuit board 30, the anvil may position the board against the lower ends of jaws 20 and 22 as shown in FIG. 6. When a thinner circuit board is used, the advance stroke of the anvil will move the board onto the pin, but not against the jaws 2t) and 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the anvil 32 comprises a hollow tubular member to accommodate that portion of the pin 26 which projects below the board 30 to permit the anvil 32 to cooperate with the pin and the jaws 20 and 22 so as to securely hold the board 30 when the punch 28 moves downwardly so as to drive the terminal pin home, that is, to its proper position in the hole in the board 30. Thereafter the air cylinder means 34 is energized so as to upwardly retract the back jaw 22 and the punch 28 to the position as illustrated in FIG. 7. A lubricant wick 31 embedded in the base of the press lubricates jaw 22. Spring biased drag 33 forces jaw 22 against jaw 20 to securely hold the pin 26 as it is moved therebetween.

When the jaw 22 and punch are fully retracted, the anvil 32 is downwardly retracted whereby the board and the newly inserted terminal pin are free of the anvil 32 and the jaws 20 and 22 so as to enable the operator to shift the board 30 relative to the fixed jaw 20 so as to bring another hole in the board 30 into registration with the pin to be fed between the jaws 20 and 22, with the completion of the cycle of the press. While the operator is doing this, the feed mechanism 24 is actuated to move the next terminal pin into shearing position (FIG. 9), and the air cylinder means 34 is energized so as to move the back jaw 22 and punch 28 from the retracted position of FIG. 7 and to cause the punch 28 to shear the lead terminal from the carrier strip 27 and to position it in its pilot position between the jaws 20 and 22 as illustrated in FIG. 10 for the next cycle of operation.

Referring to FIG. 9, it will be noted that the carrier strip 27 is offset from the pins 26 which are integrally connected thereto in parallel relation and so that when the punch 28 descends it will shear the pin 26 from the carrier strip 27. This leaves the carrier strip 27 intact. However, as successive pins 26 are advanced to the shearing position (FIG. 9), the carrier strip 27 is fed to a cut-off mechanism which comprises a cutter 92 pivoted to the block by pin 94. Spring 96 biases the cutter 92 so that the cutting edge thereof is normally in its retracted position.

On the final portion of the downstroke of the press an abutment 98 on plate 62 engages a cam surface 100 on the cutter 92 for shifting the same in a clockwise direction so that the cutting edge 102 will cut off the part of the carrier strip 27 which projects into the path of the cutter 92.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the strip of terminals 26 is fed by the feed mechanism through a guide which defines a path 106 conforming essentially to the cross section of the carrier strip 27 and the pins 26 as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. This path 106 intersects the path of the punch 28 as illustrated in FIG. 9 so as to present the lead terminal in a position for severance by the punch 28 from the strip 27. A drag 108 is loaded by spring 109 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 13 to react on the carrier strip 27 so as to stabilize its travel.

The strip of terminals preferably is fed from a reel to the press. The feed mechanism 24 includes pawls 110 and 112 engageable with the pilot holes in the strip 27, pawl 112 serving to prevent accidental reverse movement of the strip of terminals. The pawl 112 is pivoted at 114 and forms a part of a bell crank 116 so as to permit the pawl 112 to be disengaged from the carrier strip 27 when desired. The pawl 110 is pivoted by a pin 118 to a link 120 which is pivoted by a pin 122 to one of the guide bars 124 which form the path 106. The outer end of the link 120 has a pivotal connection 126 with a link 128 which is the piston rod of the piston of a double acting air cylinder 130 shown in FIG. 1, whereby the link 120 may be oscillated so as to actuate the pawl 110 to advance the strip of terminals one by one into the path of the punch 28 for the severing operation as illustrated in FIG. 9. As will be explained more fully hereafter, the feed mechanism is actuated when the punch 28 is in its retracted position (FIG. 7) to move the lead terminal into position for severance from the strip 27.

The anvil 32 is movable from its retracted position as shown in FIG. 1 to its extended position as shown in FIG. 6 by a toggle mechanism which includes links 132 and 134 which are connected by pin 13 6 and bracket 138 to a piston rod 140 of the double acting air cylinder 142. The link 132 is pivoted at 144 to a fixed bracket 146 while the link 134 is connected by pin 148 to the anvil 32 which is vertically movable in the guide 150. The opposite ends of the double acting air cylinder 142 are supplied with airrunder pressure under the control of a conventional solenoid valve indicated generally at 152, the va'lving arrangement being such that when air under pressure is supplied to one end of the cylinder 142, the other end is ported to atmosphere. v i

The circuit for the solenoid valve 152 is normally open and is adapted to be closed by a foot-operated, normally open switch 154 under the control of the operator. An onolf power switch 151 is manually operated to energize the press so that when the operator steps on foot switch '154 the press will sequentially run through its complete cycle. A pilot lamp 153 indicates when switch 151 is on and the machine is ready for actuation. At the beginning of the cycle of operation the press is in the pilot position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. Momentary closing of the switch 154 will energize solenoid 155 of valve 152 so as to energize the air cylinder 142 to close the toggle and shift the anvil from the position of FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 6. Before this occurs, the operator has already positioned the circuit board 30 over the lead end of the pin as illustrated in FIG. 14. Movement of the anvil 32 to its extended position will force the hole in the board over the major diameter 42 of the pin 26 and shift the board 30 up against the lower ends of the jaws 20 and 22 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

As the anvil moves toward its extended position, an element 156 carried by the link 132 engages the actuating member 160 of a normally open switch 162 to close the same for the period the anvil is extended and thus complete the circuit through solenoid 163 of a normally closed solenoid operated valve 164 which permits air under pressure to pass through valve 164, air line 72, and into the upper end of air cylinder 70 for moving the piston 68 thereof downwardly and so as to cause the punch 28 to move from the pilot position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to that illustrated in FIG. 6 where spacers 69 of block 60 are bottomed on block and the punch is fully extended downwardly between the jaws 20 and 22. In doing so, the punch 28 drives the pin 26 home into the hole 44. As this occurs, a bracket 67 on the head 65 engages the actuating arm 168 of a normally open switch 170 so as to close the same. This closes the circuit through solenoid 173 of a solenoid operated valve 172 which opens the line 74 to the air pressure supply so as to supply air under pressure to the cylinder 70 on the underside of the piston 68 for raising the same to its upper position, thus moving the punch and the jaw 22 to their retracted positions as shown in FIG. 7. The entrapped air above piston 68 is vented to atmosphere through a one-way vent valve 186 as the piston is raised to the fully extended position. When the piston 68 is raised, it contacts and raises piston 192, located in cylinder 190, by abutting against and raising piston rod 194 of piston 192. Piston 68 however is not secured to piston rod 194. Air line 195 is then vented to atmosphere through valve 172 to release the entrapped air above piston 192. The lower portion of cylinder 190 is vented directly to atmosphere at 188. As the press rises, bracket 67 retracts from arm 168 and switch 170 opens, deactivating solenoid 173.

As the press rises, an abutment 174 mounted on the head 65 trips the actuating arm 176 of a normally open switch 178 which energizes solenoid 179 of a solenoid actuated normally closed valve 180 which controls the supply of air under pressure to the double acting air cylinder 130 for effecting the feed stroke of the feed mechanism so as to position the lead terminal in the path of the retracted punch 28. Closing of the switch 178 also closes the circuit through solenoid 181 of the solenoid operated valve 152 which energizes the air cylinder 142 so as to effect the retractile stroke of the anvil 32 and open switch 162, thereby closing valve 164. The toggle link 134, upon being retracted, engages the switch actuating arm 182 of a normally open switch 184 which momentarily closes the circuit through solenoid 185 of a solenoid operated valve 172 which reverses valve 172 so as to supply air under pressure to the upper end of a cylinder so as to effect the advance stroke of the piston 192. The piston rod 194 of the piston 192 reacts on the piston 68 so as to advance the same to effect the severing of the lead terminal from the strip 27 and to position the lead terminal in its pilot position as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. As the press advances back to the pilot position, switch 178 is opened and solenoids 179 and 181 are deenergized. Switch activating arm 182 is provided with a hinge so that it does not actuate switch 184 as the anvil is advanced. The press has now completely cycled and is inactive until foot switch 154 is again tripped by the operator.

In view of the foregoing, it will be evident that the closing of the foot-operated switch 154 by the operator initiates a cycle of operation which will insert a pin in a h l in a circuit board. At the end of this cycle the press will be conditioned for another cycle. The air cylinders, the pistons, the solenoid valves for controlling the same, and the switches which control the solenoid valves are constructed and arranged so that a complete cycle is carried out in about one second or less.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for securing a current conducting terminal pin to a circuit board which comprises jaws for hold- 75 ing and supporting a terminal pin for movement lengthwise of the pin, feed mechanism for feeding terminal pins, one by one, between said jaws so as to position a pin therein in a first position, a punch associated with said jaws and operable for moving the pin lengthwise so that the lead end of said pin projects from said jaws, a backup anvil disposed opposite to and in line with said jaws and operable to apply pressure in the direction of said jaws against a circuit board disposed transversely between said anvil and jaws so as to force said board onto the lead end of said pin, and means for operating said punch so as to cause it to drive said pin into said board to a predetermined extent so as to accurately position said pin on said board.

2. Apparatus for securing a current conducting terminal to a circuit element which comprises jaws for holding and supporting a terminal for movement, feed mechanism for feeding a series of terminals on a carrier, One by one, between said jaws so as to position the lead terminal therein in a first position, a punch associated with said jaws and operable for severing the lead terminal from said carrier and for moving the severed terminal so that the lead end of said terminal projects from said jaws, a backup anvil disposed opposite to and in line with said jaws and operable to apply pressure in the direction of said jaws against a circuit element disposed between said anvil and jaws so as to force said element onto the lead end of said terminal, and means for operating said punch so as to cause it to drive said terminal into said element to a predetermined extent so as to accurately position said terminal on said element and to release said element from said supporting jaws.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of said jaws is movably mounted for movement with said punch to a retracted position to permit said carrier to advance the next terminal to said first position.

4. Apparatus for securing a terminal pin to a circuit board which comprises elongated jaws for holding and vertically supporting a terminal pin for movement lengthwise of the vpin, feed and guide mechanism for feeding a series of parallel terminal pins on a carrier, one by one, toward said jaws so as to position the lead pin therein in a first position, a punch associated with said jaws and operable for severing the lead pin from said carrier, means for moving said punch and one of said jaws for moving the severed pin lengthwise of the other of said jaws so that the lead end of said pin projects downwardly from said jaws, a backup anvil disposed opposite to and in line with and below said jaws and operable to apply pressure in the direction of said jaws against a circuit board disposed transversely between said anvil and jaws so as to force said board onto the lead end of said pin, and means for operating said punch so as to cause it to drive said pin into said board to a predetermined extent so as to accurately position said pin on said board and to permit the separation of said pin on the board from said supporting jaws.

5. Apparatus for securing the lead pin of a strip of current conducting pin terminals to a circuit element which comprises downwardly projecting jaws for holding and supporting a terminal pin for downward movement, feed mechanism for transversely feeding a series of terminals on a carrier, one by one, between said jaws so as to p sition the lead terminal therein in a first position, a punch associated with said jaws and operable for severing the lead terminal pin from said carrier and moving said pin downwardly, a backup anvil disposed opposite to and in line with said jaws and operable to support a circuit board disposed between said anvil and jaws, and means for operating said punch so as to cause it to drive said terminal pin while supported by said jaws into said board to a predetermined extent so as to accurately position said terminal pin on said board.

6. Apparatus for securing a current conducting terminal pin to a circuit board which comprises jaws for holding and supporting a terminal for movement, feed mechanism for transversely feeding a series of terminals on a carrier, one by one, between said jaws so as to position the lead terminal therein in a first position, a punch associated with said jaws and operable for severing the lead terminal from said carrier and for moving the severed terminal downwardly so that the lead end of said terminal projects from said jaws, an anvil disposed opposite to and in line with said jaws and operable to apply pressure in the direction of said jaws against a circuit board disposed between said anvil and jaws so as to hold said board against said terminal, and means for operating said punch so as to cause it to drive said terminal into said board a predetermined extent so as to accurately position said terminal pin on said board.

'7. Apparatus for securing a terminal pin to a circuit board comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw movable between retracted and extended positions and cooperable with said fixed jaw to hold a terminal pin in and for movement between said positions, a movable punch operable for moving said pin from said retracted to said extended positions, means including a lost motion connection for moving said punch and movable jaw from said retracted to said extended positions so as to position said terminal in said extended position and for moving said pin beyond said extended position for positioning said pin in a circuit board.

8. An apparatus for securing a terminal pin to a circuit board comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a movable punch, a lost motion connection securing the movable jaw to the punch so that the movable jaw'travels with the punch from a retracted position to a position adjacent to the fixed jaw and so that when the movable jaw is bottomed opposite the fixed jaw the punch is free to move further in the same direction relative to both jaws, terminal pin strip feed and guide means for positioning a terminal pin carried on a carrier strip between said jaw and in front of the punch when the punch and movable jaw are in a retracted position, means for locating a terminal board adjacent and in terminal receiving relation to the fixed jaw, means for exerting a force on the punch so as to move the punch and movable jaw from said retracted position toward the fixed jaw whereby the punch strips the pin from the carrying strip, the punch and movable jaw move and guide the pin toward the fixed jaw until the movable jaw bottoms and the pin is secured between the now adjacent jaws, and the punch then moves relative to said jaws so as to insert the pin into the terminal board.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including air cylinder means operable for exerting said force on said punch, and control means for said air cylinder means for operating the same so as to position said pin projecting from said jaws when the movable jaw is bottomed.

References (Iited UNITED STATES PATENTS GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SECURING A CURRENT CONDUCTING TERMINAL PIN TO A CIRCUIT BOARD WHICH COMPRISES JAWS FOR HOLDING AND SUPPORTING A TERMINAL PIN FOR MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE OF THE PIN, FEED MECHANISM FOR FEEDING TERMINAL PINS, ONE BY ONE, BETWEEN SAID JAWS SO AS TO POSITION A PIN THEREIN IN A FIRST POSITION, A PUNCH ASSOCIATED WITH SAID JAWS AND OPERABLE FOR MOVING THE PIN LENGTHWISE SO THAT THE LEAD END OF SAID PIN PROJECTS FROM SAID JAWS, A BACKUP ANVIL DISPOSED OPPOSITE TO AND IN LINE WITH SAID JAWS AND OPERABLE TO APPLY PRESSURE IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID JAWS AGAINST A CIRCUIT BOARD DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAID ANVIL AND JAWS SO AS TO FORCE SAID BOARD ONTO THE LEAD END OF SAID PIN, AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID PUNCH SO AS TO CAUSE IT TO DRIVE SAID PIN INTO SAID BOARD TO A PREDETERMINED EXTENT SO AS TO ACCURATELY POSITION SAID PIN ON SAID BOARD. 